Telephone signal system.



J. MEYERHOFF.

TELEPHONE SIGNAL SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15 1912.

1,093,794. Patented Apr. 21, 19M

l l lllllll .1 ,e a 4 i a 7 a 7 a 7 d 77 {7? a u r 30 234 20- WW 1'- 1 l I 1 1 1 I 2% 24 25 mzwfip g 121 27122;- g-T a3. "1 @JM JACOB MEYEBHOFF, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. I

rnnnrnonn SIGNAL srsrmt.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

Application filed November 15, 1912. Serial No. 781,491.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JAoon Mnxnnuorr, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certaln new and useful Improvements in Telephone Signal Systems, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to telephone signal systems and has for its object the provision of an improved telephone signal system by means of which connections may be obtained without conversation with the exchange op erator, thus saving time and avoiding mistakes due to misunderstandings as to the connection desired.

The invention consists in the combinationsand arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed. I

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an exchange signal board employed in carrying out my invention, Fig. 2, a section of a desk board for use by each user of the system,

Fig. 3, a diagrammatic view illustrating the circuits employed in conjunction with each telephone instrument in the system, and Fig. i

4, an enlarged section taken on line wm of Fig. 3.

The preferred form-- of construction as illustrated in the drawings comprises a signal, board 10 having a plurality of individual electric lights 11 arranged thereon one above the other and numbered to correspond with each telephone instrument in the system. ,Opposite each (if the lights 11 is arranged a plurality of numbered lights 12, said lights being numbered, as indicated for convenience in indicating the instrument with which connection is desired. Inasmuch as the system illustrated is designed for use especially at private exchanges, I provide an additional signal light 13 for each individual light 11 and label such additional light 13 with the letter C to indicate that a connection with the central exchange is desired. Each telephone instrument in the system is provided with a spring-actuated receiver supporting lever 15 which is connected by means of wires 16 in circuit with the corresponding individual light 11, as indicated in Fig. 3, said connection being such that when the receiver of the instrument is supported on the lever, the circuit through the corresponding light 11 will be broken and when said receiver is removed from said lever, said circuit will be closed and the corwil be readily understood. A desk block 17 is provided to be used in conjunction with each telephone instrument, said desk block being provided with a lurality of springheld push buttons 18 la eled to correspond with the electric lights 12 and 13 on theexchange signal board. Each of these push buttons 18 is provided at its lower end with a' metallic or magnetic head 19 and an electro-magnet 20 is arranged in block 17 and provided with an armature plate 21 positioned immediately under heads 19. Armature plate 21 of each block 17 is connected by means of a wire 22 with each of the corresponding lights 12 and 13, and each of saidlights 12 and 13 is in turn connected by an individual wire 23 with the head 19 on the correspondingly labeled button 18- of the corresponding block 17. Electro-magnet 20 is connected by means of wires 24 and 25 in series with the corresponding light 11 and receiver supporting lever 15, as indicated in Fig. 3.

i In use, when it is'desired to ,make connection with another instrument, the receiver is first removed from the receiver supporting lever 15 as is usual. This closes the circuits through the corresponding light 11 and'the' electro-magnet in the corresponding responding individual light 11 lighted, as

magnetism in plate 21, thus when the receiver is first removed from the receiver supporting instrument, theexchange oper-.

ator is notified that connection is desired for that instrument by the lighting of the corresponding light 11. Immediately afterward the connection desired will be indicated by lights 12 or light 13 and the con nection can be made without any conversation passing between the\user and the exchange operator. When the receiver of the instrument with which connection is desired is removed from its supporting lever, the corresponding light on'the exchange board is lighted, thus showing the exchange operator that the call has been answered. When the conversation is terminated, and the original caller hangs up his receiver, the circuits through the corresponding electro-magnet1 20 and corresponding light 11 are broken and the corresponding light 11 goes out. Breaking of the circuit through electromagnet 20 releases any push buttons which are held in depressed positions by the magnetism thereof and these push buttons return to original positions thus breaking the circuits for the corresponding numbered lights 12 or light 13 and thus placing the system in its original or normal condition.

It will be observed that all calls or connections can be made by use of this system without any conversation whatever passing between the user and the exchange operator,

thus greatly facilitating the making of such connections and lessemng the chances for error and waste of time therethrough.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into eflect, this is capa-f ble of variation and modification Without departin from the spiritof the invention. 1, there ore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 40 Patent is:

1. A telephone si a1 system comprising an indivldual electric light and a plurality of numbered electric lights for each telephone in the system; a receiver supporting 5 cuit with said individual light so that removal of said receiver closes said circuit; a plurality of circuits for lighting said numbered lights; a plurality of spring-held push but-tons adapted to close said circuits; an electro-magnet arranged to hold said buttons in closing positions; and an electric circuit for exciting said magnet, said circuit being connected to be made or broken by said receiver lever, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JACOB MEYERHOFF.

Witnesses:

JOSHUA R. H. Form, A. A. OLSON. 

